Pulmonary contusion

Background

• Direct damage to lung causing alveolar hemorrhage, edema, and debris accumulation

Diagnosis

• Signs/symptoms
  • SOB
  • Tachypnea
  • Cyanosis
  • Hypotension
  • Rales
  • Hypoxia
  • Wide a-A

Imaging

• CXR
  • Patchy irregular infiltrates
  • Always seen by 4-6 hr, always worse than what the 1st CXR shows
    • Do not treat the CXR, treat the patient
  • Flail chest almost always associated with contusion

Treatment

• If need to intubate: low tidal volume, high PEEP

See Also

• Rib Fracture
• Traumatic Pneumothorax

Source

• Trauma Reports 4/04